The platform’s Grok chatbot has come under scrutiny following reports that it generated erotic deepfakes, including images of minors
The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X following reports that its AI chatbot Grok created sexualized images, including some showing minors.
Grok, developed by Musk’s AI company xAI and incorporated into X, has faced global scrutiny since its 2023 launch. Critics have voiced concerns about extremist language, political bias, and sexually explicit functions, cautioning that poorly moderated AI tools can put users—especially teenagers—at risk of harmful content.
In a Monday statement, the European Commission said it is investigating whether X has properly addressed all systemic risks linked to its recommender systems, including Grok’s recent integration. The probe is part of the EU’s wider oversight of major online platforms, and regulators noted that interim steps could be taken if X fails to make meaningful changes.
“The sharing of sexualized AI-generated images, particularly involving minors, is unacceptable and raises serious risks for users,” said the commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, Henna Virkkunen.
The investigation comes after the commission took previous enforcement actions, including a €150 million ($178 million) fine against X in December for violating transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act.
In response to the probe, X released a statement dated 14 January, stating that it is dedicated to keeping the platform “safe” and has “zero tolerance” for child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content. Separately, Musk posted an image on X that seemed to mock the restrictions surrounding Grok.
The EU’s investigation follows earlier warnings from US officials that a crackdown on Big Tech could prompt a response from Washington, including the potential use of tariffs.
Researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate stated that Grok generated nearly 3 million sexualized images in under two weeks, with approximately 23,000 of them appearing to show children.
Earlier this month, UK media regulator Ofcom started its own investigation into whether X is fulfilling its obligations to protect online users.